Little Bear Lake

How big is Little Bear Lake?

How deep is Little Bear Lake?

What kind of fish can you catch in Little Bear Lake?

Are there boat launches on Little Bear Lake?

Are there places to eat and drink near Little Bear Lake?

Little Bear Lake is a 142 acre lake located in northern Itasca County near the town of Togo in the Little Fork River watershed. The water is bog-stained with a Secchi disk transparency of 7.5 feet. Maximum depth is 35 feet with 68% of the lake shallower than 15 feet. The lake has periodically experienced partial winterkills in the past. Submerged vegetation growth was very dense during the 2011 assessment which made for difficult conditions to set nets.

The northern pike gill-net catch was below the expected range at 2.2/net. Catches in previous surveys ranged from 2.7 to 14/net. Sampled pike varied from 15.0 to 26.4 inches, with a mean length of 19.7 inches. Recruitment appeared relatively consistent with ages 2 through 7 represented in the sample. Growth of northern pike was similar to the statewide average, with fish reaching 20.4 inches in 5 years.

The trap-net catch for black crappie was below the expected range at 0.2/net, while the gill-net catch rate was near the lake class median at 1.8/net. Catch rates in previous assessments have varied from 0 to 4.8/trap net, and from 0 to 1.5/gill net. Gill-net sampled crappie ranged from 6.0 to 9.1 inches, with a mean length of 7.3 inches. Recruitment appeared relatively consistent with ages 3 through 7 represented in the sample. Growth of black crappie was below the statewide average, with fish reaching 7.6 inches in 5 years.

The trap-net catch for bluegill was within the lake class expected range at 12.7/net, and similar to the catch of 14/net in 2001. The two highest catch rates have occurred in the two most recent assessments. Catches in prior surveys varied from 0 to 7.5/net. Size structure in the 2011 sample was relatively poor, with fish ranging from 2.9 to 7.8 inches, with a mean length of 5.3 inches. Bluegill growth was similar to the lake class average, with fish reaching 4.7 inches in 5 years.

The gill-net catch rate for yellow perch was 0.2/net; below the expected range but similar to the previous assessment. Catches in historical surveys have varied considerably, ranging from 0.5 to 28/net. Yellow perch are an important prey species for walleye and northern pike; consequently low abundance can limit abundance and growth of predator species.

No walleye were captured in gill nets in this assessment, despite walleye fry stocking in four of the previous ten years. Catches in historical surveys have varied from 0 to 2/ gill net, although the catch has only once exceeded 0.8/net. One 19.5 inch walleye was sampled in a trap net.

Other species sampled in test nets in this assessment included largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, hybrid sunfish and golden shiner. Near-shore IBI (index of biotic integrity) sampling with seines and back-pack electrofishing also sampled blackchin shiner, central mudminnow, Iowa darter and Johnny darter.

What is the average air temp for Little Bear Lake?

Are there any state parks near Little Bear Lake?